Rite Aid appoints managed care executive

January 9th, 2012

CAMP HILL, Pa. – Wendy Barnes has joined Rite Aid Corp. as group vice president of managed care.

The drug store chain said Monday that Barnes comes to the company from Premier Healthcare Alliance, where she served as a pharmacy contracting and new business development director since February 2009.

In her post at Rite Aid, Barnes oversees all aspects of managed care, including contracting; maintaining relationships with managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and third-party payers; and developing new strategic partnerships. She reports directly to Chris Hall, senior vice president of pharmacy services for Rite Aid.

"Wendy is a veteran of the managed care industry, and we are excited about the extensive knowledge and experience she is bringing to Rite Aid," Hall said in a statement. "Her expertise will be an invaluable resource as the company executes its managed care strategy in the rapidly changing health care environment."

Barnes brings to Rite Aid more than 17 years experience in contract negotiations, new business development and hospital administration.

While at Premier Healthcare Alliance, which serves 2,500 hospitals and 78,000 alternate site members, she was a member of the specialty pharmacy acquisition team and established a first-of-its-kind prescription drug savings program for Oregon state employees, the drug chain said. Barnes has also held several hospital administration positions while serving as an active-duty Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Air Force, including vice president of managed care, vice president of supply chain, and chief resource management and financial officer.